Practicum

This semester for our Intro to Education class we have been placed in classrooms for a 40 hour practicum. I have already observed/been a part of about 15 hours in a 3rd grade classroom in West Fargo. I am already learning so much and am having a wonderful time! It has certainly been an eye opening experience so far.

I think one of my favorite things that I am learning is about classroom management and organization. The teacher I observe is so good with making the classroom nice and neat as well as a comfortable and positive place for students to succeed. Some of the things I really enjoy include her different seating areas for students based on what activity they are doing (desk/tables in groups, rug with a square designated for each student for group discussion, comfy chairs for reading time). I feel like these things make students feel much more comfortable in the classroom, rather than making it feel like a stuffy/uncomfortable place. I am also learning about how technology plays into the classroom every day. The teacher has shown me some really cool ways of using a Smart Board (lessons, visual aids, timers, videos, etc.). My favorite (although not a lesson) activity that she has the students do is called a "Brain Break", where she puts a video on the Smart Board with simple choreography for the students to dance along with in order to have a break between long periods of working time. There are many things I have been learning, but these are just a few of the fun things I have noticed.

Being placed in a teacher role rather than being a student for the last 15 years has been very interesting. Although I have had a chance to TA at NDSU for the past 3 semesters, it is not quite the same when I am working with people much younger than I am. My interactions with children must be simpler, as well as a little more structured/formal than if I were to talk to my goddaughter. It is somewhat difficult for me to adopt the "student and not friend" mentality, since I am so used to working with kids in a more relaxed setting (cousins, tennis camps, etc.). The more I am in the classroom, the more I am able to practice this skill, and it seems to be going very well. My goal is to keep things light and positive without the relationships becoming too informal, and keeping professional.

I honestly like most of the things that I am seeing during my observations. I love getting a chance to converse with the teacher/other practicum students about ideas and opinions. It is so nice to hear the perspective of other about teaching elementary learners. As far as complaints go I luckily haven't had any bad experiences yet, and I hope that I won't have too many to share!